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Month: April 2016

Torre Washington is a vegan bodybuilder. He’s proof that you don’t need meat or animal byproducts to maintain your muscle.

When he was younger, his family temporarily moved to Jamaica, where he was introduced to the ‘Rasta way of life.” He became vegan in 1998.

The vegan diet has many sources of protein, and his website, www.torrewashington.com, helps you build and maintain muscle the same way he has – through vegan nutrition. The site is designed for both men and women.

She is Rastafarian and recently married a fellow Rastafarian from Kenya, who happens to maintain her hair. His name is Emmanual Chege.

Asha recently lost 65 pounds with the help of Emmanual. They would run together. Not an easy feat, as her hair is said to weigh 45 pounds.

They met online 3 years ago and dated for 8 months before getting married.

There are rumours that Emmanual is now vying to make it into the Guiness Book of World Records as man with the longest locs. Asha currently holds the title for “woman with the longest dreadlocks.” Neither will cut their locs due to spiritual reasons.

Nerissa Irving is a Jamaican-born model who has had locs for most of her life. What stands out about her locs is their sheer length as well as her trademark bangs. There’s no denying her remarkable beauty.

Nerissa is very open about her sexuality and encourages women to own their own. She has her own organic product line, Nene Naturals, where you can find hair and body products. Some of these products fall into the category of feminine hygiene, which — up until recently — had been saturated with over-the-counter products that usually aren’t good for your overall health.

A family-oriented mother of one with a sense of humour, she is a multi-talented innovator.

“Should I oil my locs?” is a tricky question. On the one hand, it can impart shine to dry/dull-looking locs. On the other hand, if not used correctly, it can lead to even more dryness and, in some cases, build up.

First things first… Regardless of how you choose to use oil on your locs, it should be a light oil (such as avocado, jojoba, coconut or olive) that can be easily absorbed into the hair and skin. From personal experience, oiling the length of my locs with avocado oil a couple of times a week worked great for me… until 2 years into my loc journey. At which point, I started to notice the — no pun intended — dreaded lint build up some people get on the very back row.

What was actually happening is that my now fully locked hair was carrying an excessive amount of oil, which lint from my coat and sweater collar clung to during the winter months. I now choose to colour over these locs rather than go through the arduous process of having a professional attempt to pick it out without damage.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the best way to use oil is on the scalp to combat the dryness many people of colour suffer from. If extra shine is desired, regular hot oil treatments are a great way to promote the health of one’s locs in general.

Everyone’s locs are different, so consider this solely a tale of caution. But when choosing to use oil on your locs, make sure it’s a light oil and use it sparingly. Cleansing your hair with a high-quality shampoo that won’t strip it (sulfate-free) will also do wonders for you.

Essentials oils can be added to your beauty products, used for aromatherapy or consumed. Different oils have different effects on the mood and body. I sometimes add mint or lavender to my hair spritzes (made of mostly water and a touch of conditioner) for a fresh clean scent.

The high-end salon I worked for burned lemongrass to create a calming atmosphere.

I add several drops of lemon essential oil to my hot water to drink. Like fresh lemon, it helps cleanse/alkalize the body.

Finally, I was recommended nutmeg oil when I was transitioning to a vegan diet to help minimize my headaches. As an old wive’s tale goes, you simply place a few drops behind your ears or on your temple area. Unfortunately, this did not work for me.

There are, however, dozens of essential oils on the market than can be easily found at your local health store. Here are some others and what they’re used for:

Essential oils do not dissolve in water. They stay on the surface of the water. Due to being highly concentrated (which can irritate the skin with direct contact), it is recommended you mix them with a base oil (eg. avocado oil, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, or wheat germ oil). It is also recommended that you speak to a doctor before using essential oils to treat a condition, as it may interact with prescription medication or a previous condition.

If you’d like to incorporate essential oils into your beauty regimen, start by adding your favourite to your current body lotion or conditioner.

I used to be apprehensive about my 10-year-old daughter rockin’ locs like I do. I did not want her to experience the stares and stereotypes that I sometimes get.

Eventually, I decided that because my locs are a representation of who I am (someone who believes in racial pride and natural living), it was only fitting for someone who was being raised with the same values to exemplify that… if she chose to, of course.

She has now had her starter locs for roughly 4 months.

Let’s take a moment, though, to observe the cuteness of this random father and son.